Timeless Truth: Big moments in time
Isaiah 40:8 | The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.
We saw last week that God’s Word is Timeless Truth that is true at all times, even though culture, people, or situations may change. By looking at the whole of God’s Word – from Genesis to Revelation, God’s followers can see the timeless message of God’s love, man’s need for rescue, and Jesus as our Rescuer.
What about you? Do you feel like you have a strong grasp of the timeline of God’s Word? Are there certain moments that stand out to you as ‘most important’ or as markers of God’s overarching plan?
Before reading today’s devo, sketch out a timeline of Scripture.
Make a list of people or moments from Scripture that come to mind.
Do your best to order these people and moments from memory. You can check your order later!
Circle, star, or color code the moments on the timeline that stand out to you as key moments in God’s plan.
You can also mark some of your favorite stories or illustrate the timeline as a family!
We will see throughout the Timeless Truth series that each and every moment of Scripture weaves together as a Timeless message that conveys the unchanging nature of God, His unrelenting love for us, our desperate need for Him, and Jesus as the only way of rescue.
2nd Timothy 1:9 | For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
For this week, we want you to keep in mind a few key moments that form the foundation of our Bible timeline to help us understand the Timeless Truth of Scripture.
Eternity [Before the beginning of ‘time’]
John 1:1-2 | In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.
Creation
Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The Fall of Man
Romans 5:12 | When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Noah & The Flood
We see God provide one way of rescue
Abraham
We see the first substitutionary sacrifice
Exodus
We see God lead and guide the steps of His people as He provides for and protects them
God gives the law which points to our need for a Savior
Romans 3:20 | For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Romans 8:3-4 | The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Reign of the Kings
Human kingship pointed to the eternal King and Promised Savior
Psalm 89:29 | I will preserve an heir for him; his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.
Captivity
God instructs His people about living as aliens in a foreign land that is not their home
1st Peter 2:11-12 | Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
The temple is destroyed and the law is lost. Later, the Israelites rebuild the temple and expectantly wait for the arrival of the Promised Savior who will sit on David’s throne.
Jesus’ birth
Luke 1:31-33 | “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
John 1:29 | The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus’ life and public ministry
Luke 2:52 | Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
Matthew 4:17 | From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Jesus’ death & resurrection
1st Corinthians 15:3b-4 | Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
Romans 5:18 | Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
Jesus’ ascension & The New Testament church
Mark 16:15-16, 19-20 | And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
Revelation & the foretold future
Revelation 1:7-8 | Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
Were there any stories mentioned today that you weren’t familiar with? Which ones? Spend this week checking them out!
What is the timeless story of Scripture from start to finish?
What Old Testament moments point ahead to Jesus?
How does understanding the Old Testament help you understand the New Testament?